The Battle Is The Lord's

​This message is a simple, but profound foundational truth of God's word.  It refers to the account of a great King of Judah during Old Testament times and how he responded in the midst of an attack.  How he overcame by the word of the Lord and how he had victory.  This message speaks of the enemy we face, but most of all, how the battle is not ours, but the Lord's. We can be encouraged by his example today.
 2Chronicles 20
The children of Moab and Ammon  came against 
Jehosaphat and Judah to destroy them.
They also bought others with them, so as to form "a great multitude".

Jehoshaphat's Primary Focus - Seek the Lord
(Proverbs 3:25)
Be not afraid of sudden fear   
note: the verse goes on to refer to the desolation/destruction of the wicked  "when it comes"
Immediately, Jehosaphat  set himself to seek the Lord
all the cities of Judah came to seek the Lord!
fear will come naturally, but don't lean to your own understanding

We hear news of evil, pandemic, natural disasters, chaos, etc. Address it, know how to deal with it.  We need to look up, our redemption draws near
don't ignore spirits of poverty and lack
don't let them steal our peace, joy and confidence in the Lord
seek the Lord by fasting and prayer
(immediately seek the Lord for strength, peace, direction)

A Surprise Attack (don't be caught off guard) 
Don't be ignorant concerning the devil's devices!  Be not dismayed.  "count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations".  James 1:2
Jehoshaphat was surprised by the attack from nations that they had spared!
they had turned on them and become their enemy
 friends may turn on you and become your enemies
(enemies may become friends, too!)

Put God in remembrance
Remind  God of what he has already done in our lives, not get in fear of the future
that same God is able to deliver now!
--  all things are possible to them who believe  Mark 9:23

Psalm 103 
Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all his benefits
He has done mighty things for us.
2 Chronicles 20:11 
"turned on us to cast us out of thy houses in which thou hast given us!"

keep your eyes on the Lord!
bless, forgive, do good to your enemies
the battle is the Lord's!  He will repay
the weapons of our warfare are mighty!
what enemy meant for evil, God turned for good  - Gen. 50:20
No weapon formed against us shall prosper  Isaiah 54:17
When the enemy comes in like a flood    Isaiah 59:19

Jehoshaphat acknowledges that he does not have strength
 2 Chronicles 20:12
God judges them ?
"we have no might, neither know we what to do"
Now - rioting, pandemic, governmental elections, etc.  keep our eyes on Him!

We must have a prayer life, consistent and strong in the Spirit
prayer and fasting is needed
seeking HIs wisdom  relationship with God through the Spirit
KNOW HOW TO STAND IN THE VICTORY THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Acknowledge that you don't know what to do, and pray much in the Holy Ghost!  
(Romans 8)
We know not how to pray but the Spirit makes intercession according to the will of God!
When we pray in the spirit, we speak mysteries unto God while the Holy Spirit prays for us.  He helps our infirmities and inabilities!  God has a master plan!
We need to understand who the enemy is

Ask the Lord to show you what to do, that he might be glorified.

Jesus also makes intercession for us
we don't know what to do but our eyes are on you
(Hebrews  2:8)
"we see not everything under his feet but we see Jesus"

Don't put your eyes on His feet looking at what you think should be under his feet,
look at His face!    communicate face to face! 

Moses - I don't know what to do, if you don't go with me I will not go...
show me your glory! show me your way
seeking your face - Jehoshaphat set himself

Trust in the Lord!
David  (Psalm 27) 
the Lord is my light and my salvation
strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid
be confident, that will I seek after  to behold the beauty of the Lord  He shall hide me in his pavillion
also Psalm 91  hide in the secret place -  no evil shall befall me.  he satisfies me with long life

Know where we stand, who we belong to
He shall set me up on a rock  lift up your head, your voice your praise

(Psalm 24:6)  the generation of them that seek thy face Oh Jacob, Selah!
Lift up your heads. the King of glory shall come in!

Our response should be to seek His face, call on the Lord
Trust in Him  - He knows!
He will give us strategies, instructions, what paths to walk, what things to do
Psalm 27:8  When thou saidst seek my face, thy face will I seek

(Ezekiel 37:3)  -  God asks, "shall these bones live?"  -  "Lord,  you know.
We speak mysteries to God (praying in the Spirit) and he gives wisdom
The Spirit of the Lord himself will come
Then came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation
God sends help by 5 fold ministry gifts, angelic beings, fellow believers, etc.
(2Chronicles 20:20) - believe in the lord your God, so shall ye be established, believe His prophets so shall ye prosper

(Acts  11:26)  First called Christians in Antioch
persecution had come to the church, don't be confused, astonished when it comes, know that Gods grace is sufficient
(I Peter 4:12)  think it not strange concerning the fiery trials that shall try you.
His grace is sufficient - they ministered to the Lord and fasted/the Holy Spirit said 
"In this hour you will need to have a relationship with God that you hear him.
You must have strong relationship with God
Don't follow the voice of another."

God sends angels to help us and guard us, to fight our battles, etc.   ie: (Psalm 91 and other accounts)
(Revelation 19) 
Isle of Patmos  Angel of the Lord with John the apostle.   He referred to himself as a fellow servant, not to be worshipped.
fellow servants - 5 fold ministry for greater instruction and confirmation of what the spirit has already told you. 
same unction, testimony, spirit of prophecy upon individuals,5-fold ministry confirms
The Holy Spirit Spirit will speak to you.  Learn how to get into the Word of God for yourself.   Get in tune like never before
Seek God for your strategy for your family, your health, your ministry...what He is telling you to do.
(Chronicles) - strategies to overcome the enemy
Be so in tune to His voice in this hour.  Do what He is telling you to do.   
Hearken, be not afraid nor dismayed..., the battle is not yours 
1) be not afraid  don't allow the spirit of fear to overtake you or the spirit of dread and confusion or be overwhelmed by what is going on in this world!
you have access to the weaponry and presence of God.  We are more than conquerors

God gives victory 
So shall we ever be with the Lord
we are in the kingdom to let people know.  He is the only hope
Let our light so shine, 

Lessons from Jehoshaphat
1) don't be afraid,  2)the battle is the Lord's   3) direction: what to do, where to go
God's direction to Jehoshaphat:
"tomorrow set yourselves, stand ye still and see, fear not.  tomorrow go out  to...

(Exodus 14:13) 
Set yourself.  don't be double minded  your answer is in Christ Jesus
(Galatians 5:1)
stand ye still, stand fast in the liberty, be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage
(Galatians 5:7-15) 
ye did run well, but who did hinder you that ye did not obey
the answer is in God  he is the only way out of the problems of this life
our victory is in Christ Jesus
Not in politics, medicine, etc.
cry, call the nation, sinners, saints to repentance!
Seek His face before you bow to his feet in worship once you get the revelation, the answer, the word from God.  If He says it, it will happen
when He gives you the answer,  look up and praise him!
Release praise and the angels do battle! 
lift up your heads and He comes in and does battle
(2 Chronicles 20:22)
Jehoshaphat appointed singers to the Lord,  praise the Lord for His mercy endureth forever
Praise was the weapon of war they had to confuse the enemy. 
praise confounds/confuses the enemy  - Jehosaphat's  enemies attacked one another!
Let God arise and the enemy will be scattered
His praise shall continually be in my mouth
2 Chronicles 20:22   when they began to praise, the Lord sent ambushment against the children of Ammon and Moab.  The enemy destroyed themselves and left riches for the Hebrews.
Remember Gideon: the sword of Gideon
 and the Lord
Let God arise and the enemy will be scattered.

STAND FAST!  SPEAK THE WORD, PRAY IN THE SPIRIT!
(Romans 8:28)  we know that all things work together for good, 
(Jeremiah 29:11)  thoughts of peace toward you...
This is the hour in which the people of God must seek God in fasting and prayer.
relationship, covenant with the Lord must be stronger than ever before
pray in the spirit and speak mysteries unto God and He gives wisdom as to what to do

The power of your word, consistency of our love
covenant commitment to God has to be stronger than ever before!
because the devil knows that he has a short time and sin is abounding, but grace much more abounds
stand, set yourself, stand ye still and ye shall see the mighty hand of God!
We declare victory right now!